History is set to repeat itself, again. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009 has all the hallmarks of a classic deja vu. Last year the federal government sent out rebate checks in an attempt to stimulate the economy. They also dumped huge sums of money into failing Wall Street banks and insurance firms. Both had no effect. It’s long passed time that central planners learned that throwing good money after bad will not stimulate the economy.

We must instead cut taxes, reform burdensome regulation and eliminate government waste. It is not until we pay attention to our past history of stimulus failures that we can begin to move toward the future.

– HARVEY A. BROWN, M.D.

Palos Verdes Peninsula

Youth must take priority

Do something for our children. In his letter to the Daily Breeze on Wednesday, that was the challenge issued by the president of the San Pedro Youth Coalition, Scott Lane. What we need to confront, according to Lane, is the collective neglect of our sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, our neighbor’s kids and future generations.

Scott is right. We have spent immeasurable time reserving land for respectable projects all the while shamefully forgetting our most important treasure, children. This is a confrontation that the community should eagerly embrace. Our neglect assuredly must stop. The children playing on Knoll Hill will soon be out of time and fields. Passing this brink is not acceptable. Setting aside land for our children is a worthy endeavor.

One week prior to Scott’s challenge, the Executive Board of Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 13 stepped up and dedicated itself to the effort to find a permanent location for the youth Scott represents. The help of the entire community is needed. Together we can respond to Scott’s challenge and to his concern, our children.

– DAN and ESTHER IMBAGLIAZZO

Rancho Palos Verdes

Thanks to water workers

It was not a day off (Presidents Day) for many of the workers at the Water Department, which serves the Lomita Pines area of the South Bay. At 11 p.m. last Sunday, the water pressure stopped. At the corner of 263rd Street and Fairview Avenue, a water main broke and water was flowing up from below the street surface.

A crew arrived in less than 20 minutes — or better. They worked all night and finally finished the job Monday afternoon. Our water was running again at 3:35 p.m. All of us in the area are grateful for a job well done.

I’m sure none of these workers thought that is how they would be spending Presidents Day. Even though it rained a good part of the day and got chilly at times, they kept working.

Speaking for the neighborhood, we want to say, “Thank you!”

– DAVID COURTNEY

Lomita

Prager wrong on stimulus

I made the mistake of reading the opinion piece by Dennis Prager Wednesday. I wonder how that writer can be so right — but so wrong at the same time. In his column, he called the Obama administration’s stimulus plan dishonest.

He claims the name is dishonest. Where were his thoughts when the Bush administration named many of its programs, such as: “Clean Water” (allowing more pollution); “Clear Skies” (allowing less regulation and more pollution); “Healthy Forests” (allowing more timber to be cut); and “No Child Left Behind,” which was designed to cut federal money for schools, as the bar is continually raised. And do not forget the infamous “Mission Accomplished.” Where was Prager then?

It was galling to see Prager write that, “The aim of the bill is dishonest. It purports to stimulate the economy. But its real aim is to push America toward becoming a Western European socialist welfare state.”

Where was Prager when the Bush administration handed out to the banks and Wall Street the $700 billion cost of the TARP bill, (Troubled Asset Relief Program), which was rushed through with little explanation? More galling, though, was Prager saying that the way the Obama bill was enacted — the speed, the lack of transparency — was dishonest. It would seem that if the Republicans do it, it’s OK, When the Democrats do it, it is wrong! In my opinion, it’s Prager, once again, who is wrong.

– KENNETH TUXFORD

Redondo Beach

Use English for elections

I have every respect for the city clerk of Carson, Helen Kawagoe.

But the requirement to print a three-quarter page list of all the precincts in Carson in Tagalog (page A16, Wednesday) tells me something is way out of whack with our voting system. How much did this ad cost? And isn’t it a requirement for all foreigners who become citizens to speak English?

The unbelievable cost for printing and translating election materials makes it look like we belong to the United Nations. The Gardena election materials are the same. I love foreigners. I am one myself. So is my wife. The expense of translating election materials is not in line with common sense. The federal government needs to take another look at making local and state governments use foreign languages in our election materials.

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